Missing men turn up safe

Relief filled the air last night as two men missing at sea for more than 30 hours turned up safe and sound in Barbuda.

Family members of one of the men, 22-year-old Ikie Jeffrey, were praying that he and his companion would be found after their vessel was reported overdue.

As it was the pair miraculously managed to find their own way back to port. It was confirmed late last night that the two men had made it home safely without any assistance. They landed at River Wharf.

An extensive search and rescue operation by the Coast Guard, an RSS plane and fishermen during the day had failed to locate the missing men or their 15-foot vessel. It was reported missing after the two men failed to make port in Barbuda after departing from Antigua at 9am on Thursday.

Thankfully the prayers were answered and the men eventually made it to their destination.

A Coast Guard spokesman said: “We can confirm that the two men arrived in Barbuda at around 8pm. They are safe.”

At press time no further details of the dramatic events that unfolded throughout the day were available.

Jeffery and his unnamed companion left Antigua for Barbuda around 9am on Thursday and should have arrived at their destination by 2pm, the latest.

One of Jeffrey’s relatives told OBSERVER media yesterday afternoon that repeated calls were made to people in Barbuda in an effort to locate the missing men, but without success.

Director of the Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue (ABSAR) Jonathan Cornelius said ABSAR received notification just before 11am yesterday (Friday) that the men had not arrived as expected.